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06.13.117:43 AM ET

White House: Weiner Is a 'Distraction'

Commenting for the first time, the White House said Monday that Obama sees Anthony Weiner’s behavior as a “distraction” from the real issues—but declined to press for his resignation. See the latest batch of racy pics, his online messages with a teenager, and more.

Obama: Weiner a 'Distraction'

The White House stopped short of demanding Representative Anthony Weiner’s resignation, Monday but spokesman Jay Carney made it clear they wish the scandal would go away."The president feels, we feel at the White House, this is a distraction," Carney said when asked about Weiner. "Obviously, as Congressman Weiner has said himself, his behavior was inappropriate, his dishonesty was inappropriate, but the president is focused on his job.” House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats have urged therepresentative to step down, but Weiner instead asked for a leave of absence and promised to seek treatment.

Report: Weiner Considers Resigning

The Democratic Party leadership may have gotten through to Rep. Anthony Weiner: The disgraced congressman is considering handing in his resignation, a “source close to the congressman” tells the New York Daily News. Over the weekend, TMZ released new semi-nude photos of Weiner in the congressional gym, and the House Democrats’ No. 2, Steny Hoyer, joined Nancy Pelosi, in calling for his resignation. The Daily News’ source says Weiner’s wife, Huma Abedin, is encouraging him to stay in Congress.

Top Dems Want Him to Quit

In an orchestrated effort to pressure Weiner to leave, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and DNCC Chairman Steve Israel all released statements at nearly the same time on Saturday. Wasserman-Schultz said that Weiner’s online behavior was “indefensible” and said his “continued service in Congress is untenable.” Pelosi urged Weiner to “seek… help without the pressures of being a member of Congress.”

Peter Beinart: Don’t Go, Weiner

The congressman's public flogging doesn't fit the crime, writes Daily Beast columnist Peter Beinart, and is emblematic of our kick-'em-when-they're-down culture. Perhaps it’s time for a new rulebook for political sex scandals.

Gallery: The Weiner Photos

Weiner’s Messages With Teen Revealed

The New York congressman admitted to sending messages to a 17-year-old girl, but said they were "neither explicit or indecent." After Rep. Weiner spoke to the girl's school group in Washington, she started following him on Twitter and posted a public message complimenting his speech. He then in turn began following her on Twitter, referencing her career goals in a message that read, "How hip am I to be talking to a future president." Conservatives monitoring his activity sent both Weiner and the girl chiding messages, prompting the congressman to write her an apologetic message and remove her from the list of people he followed. But communication picked up again about a month later and they exchanged three private messages. After she posted a link on YouTube of one of his speeches with the message, "My true love," he wrote her a private response and likened himself to a superhero: “I came back strong. Large. Tights and cape...”

Howard Kurtz: The Media Selective Sex Scandal Savagery

Why is Anthony Weiner getting destroyed for sins that other politicians have skated past? Howard Kurtz explains why the press pounces selectively—and outlines the new rules of survival.